1 Corinthians 13:13-14:12

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the ^[a]greatest of these is ^(A)love.

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 ^(B)Pursue love, yet ^(C)desire earnestly ^(D)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(E)prophesy. ² For one who ^(F)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one ^[b]understands, but ^[c]in his spirit he speaks ^(G)mysteries. ³ But one who prophesies speaks to men for ^(H)edification and ^(I)exhortation and consolation. ⁴ One who ^(J)speaks in a tongue ^(K)edifies himself; but one who ^(L)prophesies ^(M)edifies the church. ⁵ Now I wish that you all ^(N)spoke in tongues, but ^(O)even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who ^(P)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^(Q)edifying.

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(R)revelation or of ^(S)knowledge or of ^(T)prophecy or of ^(U)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(V)the ^[d]bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ^(W)speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[e]languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a ^[f](X)barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^[g]barbarian ^[h]to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous of ^[i]spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ^(Y)edification of the church.